Rebuilding Together Atlanta - Atlanta, GA

Location: Atlanta, GA.

Mission Statement

Rebuilding Together Atlanta (RTA) is a non-profit organization striving to preserve and revitalize houses and communities in Metro Atlanta.  As an affiliate of Rebuilding Together, our mission is to preserve affordable housing by bringing volunteers and communities together to rehabilitate the homes of low-income homeowners.  We work to assure that low-income homeowners, particularly older adults, military veterans, people with disabilities and families with children, live in warmth, safety and independence.  Our goal is to make a sustainable impact in partnerships with communities.

What We Do

RTA fulfills its mission through its Safe and Healthy Homes Program. Assistance is focused on the low-income elderly, disabled and veteran homeowners that live in single family homes. Our method of assistance focuses on addressing all of the issues related to the home including but not limited to safety, comfort, health, energy efficiency and independence. Our primary objective is to restore safe and healthy living conditions through home repairs which have an immediate and long lasting impact. The Safe and Healthy Homes program has two signature initiatives; Safe at Home and Green Housing. Our Safe at Home Initiative targets safety upgrades and modifications needed to allow the homeowner to age in place safely, comfortably and independently.  The Green Housing Initiative provides energy efficient retrofits to allow the homeowner to save money on their electric and water bill and help conserve our precious environmental resources. Assistance is provided at no cost to the homeowner. The true value of these repairs is not the dollars but the sense of safety and security afforded to the recipients. Since its founding in 1992, RTA has rehabilitated 860 homes benefiting underserved populations in Metro Atlanta.  The estimated dollar value for RTA services is close to $3 million dollars. RTA leverages each dollar four times through donated materials and labor, providing significant renovations at no cost to the homeowner or non-profit facility.

Why Are These Services Needed?

There are 22 million low-income homeowners in the United States and that number is expected to increase to more than 28.5 million in the next 10 years.  There are 4.5 million lower-income homeowners who are elderly people living alone, and 80% of those are women.  There are 3.7 million lower-income households with a disabled person; nearly two-thirds of whom are elderly as well.   This means that more and more homeowners will be put in the position of choosing between food and medicine or a roof that does not leak. Rebuilding Together Inc, the national office, promotes the replication and coordination of Rebuilding Together programs throughout America.  The nation’s leading nonprofit organization, works to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing extensive rehabilitation and modifications.

National Impact

Operating in more than 865 cities and towns in all 50 states, Rebuilding Together rehabilitated more than 8,900 homes and non-profit facilities in 2006 with the volunteer power of 267,000 men, women and youth.

How Can Individuals Help

Anyone can volunteer! Carpenters, plumbers, electricians, painters, and other skilled trades’ people are always in demand for our home-building events.  Unskilled volunteers are also needed to participate in our rebuilding projects.  The key to making each project happen is the corps of volunteers with the enthusiasm and willingness to donate their time to help people keep their homes, improve their neighborhoods, and strengthen their communities.

How Can Companies Help?

RTA relies upon the generosity and commitment of community-minded businesses, foundations and individuals to fulfill its mission. Therefore, financial sponsorships and in-kind material donations are critical to our success. And, with the homeowner need continually rising, now more than ever, RTA needs partners to create a strong financial base and aggressively pursue program expansion.